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2016 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sentra years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Nissan Sentra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 116.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

146 reports with mileage · 124 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

27 reports
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26,000 miles · Jun 25, 2018
Forward Collision AvoidancePower TrainService BrakesCrash

NEW CAR WITH SEVERAL INCIDENCES WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND NEEDING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BREAKS FELT SLUGGISH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHERE I INTENDED, AND IT MADE SOUNDS. I WENT TO SEVERAL NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND THEY EACH TOLD ME THE BREAK SYSTEM WAS OK AND I JUST NEEDED TO GET THE FEEL OF A NISSAN SENTRA. I TOLD TH…

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NEW CAR WITH SEVERAL INCIDENCES WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND NEEDING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BREAKS FELT SLUGGISH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHERE I INTENDED, AND IT MADE SOUNDS. I WENT TO SEVERAL NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND THEY EACH TOLD ME THE BREAK SYSTEM WAS OK AND I JUST NEEDED TO GET THE FEEL OF A NISSAN SENTRA. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS NOT THE CASE BECAUSE I OWNED SEVERAL NISSAN SENTRAS. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I INCREASED MY STOPPING DISTANCE BECAUSE I DIDN'T TRUST THE CAR. I GOT INTO A MINOR FENDER BENDER. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ONLY HAD A SMALL SCRATCH. I WAS GOING AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS I HAD PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP. HOWEVER, MY CAR DIDN'T BEHAVE NORMALLY. I HIT THE BREAK AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT IT WAS SLUGGISH AND STILL MOVING. THE FRONT-END EMERGENCY BREAKING SYSTEM STARTED BEEPING. I COULDN'T SWERVE THE CAR BECAUSE THERE WHERE CARS ON MY SIDES. I CONTINUED HITTING THE BREAK AS HARD AS I COULD, AND MY SYSTEM BEEPED AND FLASHED AGAIN. THE SYSTEM COULDN'T FULLY STOP THE CAR EITHER. BEFORE MOVING MY CAR I CALLED THE NISSAN NUMBER THE MANUAL SAYS TO CALL. I TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND ASKED THEM TO GET THE EVENT DATA RECORDER INFORMATION. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ONLY DOWNLOADED CODES AND WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND AFTER LOOKING INTO IT THEY DECIDED THEY WOULD REPLACE A VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THAT A PART ALSO NEEDED REPLACING BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THEY SAID THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. I ASKED FOR DOCUMENTATION OF WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO TO MY CAR AND THEY REFUSED AND SAID I WOULD GET IT AT THE END. NOW THE PART IS FURTHER BACKORDERED. THEY WON'T PAY FOR A RENTAL AND ARE NOW SAYING THAT IF I WANT OUT OF MY LEASE THEY NEED TO DO AN 8 WEEK INVESTIGATION. I WANTED THE INVESTIGATION OVER 2 MONTHS AGO!

NHTSA ODI #11103820

50,000 miles · Mar 8, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

ON A RECENT TRIP I NOTICED A SURGE IN RPM'S ON THE CAR. ON CRUISE AT 70 MPH THE RPM WOULD BE AROUND 20,000. IT SURGES TO 35,000 OR HIGHER. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND AT LOWER SPEEDS NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11076819

70,000 miles · Feb 13, 2018
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF NEWNAN, IN OCTOBER OF 2016 SENTRA - WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT STARTED HESITATING BEFORE PICKING UP ANY SPEED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER TO READ THE MANUAL AND IT STATED TO CHECK THE GAS CAP, IT WAS NOT ON TIGHT SO I REMOVED IT A PLACED…

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PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF NEWNAN, IN OCTOBER OF 2016 SENTRA - WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT STARTED HESITATING BEFORE PICKING UP ANY SPEED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER TO READ THE MANUAL AND IT STATED TO CHECK THE GAS CAP, IT WAS NOT ON TIGHT SO I REMOVED IT A PLACED IT BACK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT THE CAR STARTING JERKING BEFORE GAINING TO 40 MILES PER HOUR, THE RMP GAUGE WOULD ZIP UP TO 4 GO BACK TO 2 BEFORE MOVING TO A HIGHER SPEED. WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, ONCE I STARTED IT BACK UP THE CAR WOULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS DEALING WITH SOMETHING ELECTRICAL AND THE TRANSMISSION. LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. I OWNED OLDER MODEL FOR 5 YEARS, OVER 200,000 MILES BEFORE I HAD ANY PROBLEMS FROM THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11072806

28,000 miles · Feb 7, 2018
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY I LOSE POWER, THE RPM' S JUMP AROUND AND THE CAR LOSES SPEED. LIKE THE CAR IS NOT SHIFTING GEARS OR IS HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING THE RIGHT GEAR GIVEN THE SPEED

NHTSA ODI #11067386

6,000 miles · Dec 25, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE I PURCHASED CAR IN 10/2016 TIL PRESENT. IT IS INTERMITTENT. WHEN INITIATING A RIGHT TURN FROM STATIONARY 0 SPEED AND WHILE ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT LEAST 100 FEET AWAY, THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE WHILE THE PEDAL IS TO THE FLOOR. I C…

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PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE I PURCHASED CAR IN 10/2016 TIL PRESENT. IT IS INTERMITTENT. WHEN INITIATING A RIGHT TURN FROM STATIONARY 0 SPEED AND WHILE ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT LEAST 100 FEET AWAY, THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE WHILE THE PEDAL IS TO THE FLOOR. I CANNOT INITIATE TURNS SAFELY IF ANY CARS ARE IN MY VIEW. I AM TAKING TO DEALER FOR EXAM, BUT I BELIEVE PROBLEM IS WITH CVT TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11056334

1,000 miles · Apr 26, 2017
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

PURCHASED MY CAR IN LATE NOVEMBER. BEFORE THE CAR HIT 1,000, I RETURNED IT TO NISSAN BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MECHANIC AT NISSAN RAN TEST AND SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOW MY CAR IS MAKING TERRIBLE NOISES WHEN I COME TO A STOP AND WHEN I'M CHANGING THE GEARS. IT'S ALSO SHAKING REAL…

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PURCHASED MY CAR IN LATE NOVEMBER. BEFORE THE CAR HIT 1,000, I RETURNED IT TO NISSAN BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MECHANIC AT NISSAN RAN TEST AND SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOW MY CAR IS MAKING TERRIBLE NOISES WHEN I COME TO A STOP AND WHEN I'M CHANGING THE GEARS. IT'S ALSO SHAKING REALLY BAD WHEN THE CAR IS AT A COMPLETE STOP. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE A PEACE OF MIND BUT ALL IT HAVE BEEN IS A HEADACHE AND UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI #10980882

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

I WILL DO MY UTMOST TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM THAT I AM ENCOUNTERING WITH MY 2016 NISSAN SENTRA... WHEN I FIRST TAKE-OFF IT BEGAN TO STALL AND SOON IT INCREASE SPEED AND I HARDLY HAVE MY FEET ON THE ACCELERATOR AND I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY ALSO OTHER PEOPLE THAT I TRANSPORT INTO MY VEHICLE...DEFINITELY WHILE MAKING TURNS ON CITY STR…

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I WILL DO MY UTMOST TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM THAT I AM ENCOUNTERING WITH MY 2016 NISSAN SENTRA... WHEN I FIRST TAKE-OFF IT BEGAN TO STALL AND SOON IT INCREASE SPEED AND I HARDLY HAVE MY FEET ON THE ACCELERATOR AND I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY ALSO OTHER PEOPLE THAT I TRANSPORT INTO MY VEHICLE...DEFINITELY WHILE MAKING TURNS ON CITY STREET AND HIGHWAYS AND THERE IS AN INDESCRIBABLE STRANGE SOUND THAT THE CAR IS MAKING IT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE PASSAGE SIDE...THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS SUPPOSE TO BE A GAS SAVER, BUT IS BURNING A RIGHT AMOUNT OF FUEL...THERE IS MORE PROBLEMS THAT CONCERN, HOWEVER I AM BEING TOLD NOT TO INCLUDE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION INTO MY COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI #10954868

Official recalls

6

21V135000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Mar 3, 2021

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.

17V253000 · Air Bags

Apr 13, 2017

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

16V485000 · Electrical System:wiring

Jun 29, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2016, through April 26, 2016. The engine room harness may have a terminal pin too large to maintain a connection with the Engine Control Unit (ECU).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the engine room harness loses connection to the ECU, the vehicle may not start or the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the terminal pin on the engine room harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

16V436000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module; Electrical System:wiring

Jun 15, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

Consequence: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Electrical System:wiring

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

Consequence: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

16V242000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Apr 26, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

16V244000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Apr 26, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.